I just saw this recently. I also enjoyed it. I wondered if any other songfighters enjoyed it too.
ROCK!
Glenn (DR FUNK)
Matchstick Men (2003)
-
erik
- Churchill
- Posts: 2341
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 11:06 am
- Submitting as: 15-16 puzzle
- Location: Austin
- Contact:
I liked this movie. I saw it in the theater when it came out, because I liked all three leads. Well, Nick Cage is hit or miss. Sometimes he decides to act like a real actor, and sometimes he decided to be a hamfisted bug-eyed cartoon. Sometimes the results are good, sometimes they are bad. Sam Rockwell is just a badass scenestealing mofo, so that's good. And at the time, I had just seen "White Oleander" and was thinking "I bet that Alison Lohman would be able to do a good job if she wasn't in such a crappy movie", so I was jazzed about seeing her as well.
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
The thing that bothered me (and everyone who I went with) about the film was that we all figured out the ending. Granted, they figured it out about 20 minutes into the thing, and it took me about halfway through the movie to figure it out. They keep dropping all these damn "clues" and crap about how a good con trusts nobody or something (it's been a while since I've seen it). Like repeatedly, over and over, until every member of the audience gets with the program and realizes "hmmmm, someone is not to be trusted, I bet". But since the movie is ultimately about the relationship between Nick Cage and Alison Lohman, I would have much rather have them own up to the "A-HA!" moment earlier on, instead of trying to both foreshadow it and keep it hidden at the same time. I would have liked to have seen what would have happened if Nick Cage figures out that she is going to doublecross him, or if he figures out that she isn't his daughter, but wonders if she is going to doublecross him. Because the time spent moving towards the buildup of the Shyamalan ending could have been better spent with more scenes with Lohman and Cage.
END OF SPOILERS
Overall, I thought it was pretty good, but not groundbreaking or anything. Three actors I really like with an okayish storyline makes for a pretty good movie by me.
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
The thing that bothered me (and everyone who I went with) about the film was that we all figured out the ending. Granted, they figured it out about 20 minutes into the thing, and it took me about halfway through the movie to figure it out. They keep dropping all these damn "clues" and crap about how a good con trusts nobody or something (it's been a while since I've seen it). Like repeatedly, over and over, until every member of the audience gets with the program and realizes "hmmmm, someone is not to be trusted, I bet". But since the movie is ultimately about the relationship between Nick Cage and Alison Lohman, I would have much rather have them own up to the "A-HA!" moment earlier on, instead of trying to both foreshadow it and keep it hidden at the same time. I would have liked to have seen what would have happened if Nick Cage figures out that she is going to doublecross him, or if he figures out that she isn't his daughter, but wonders if she is going to doublecross him. Because the time spent moving towards the buildup of the Shyamalan ending could have been better spent with more scenes with Lohman and Cage.
END OF SPOILERS
Overall, I thought it was pretty good, but not groundbreaking or anything. Three actors I really like with an okayish storyline makes for a pretty good movie by me.
-
JonPorobil
- Ibárruri
- Posts: 5682
- Joined: Sat Sep 25, 2004 11:45 am
- Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Harmonica, Mandolin, Accordion, Bass, lots of VSTs
- Recording Method: Cubase 10.5
- Submitting as: Jon Eric, Jon Porobil, others
- Pronouns: He/Him
- Location: Pittsburgh, PA
- Contact:
I guess I'm an idiot. I didn't see it coming, and I enjoyed this film a great deal. It's one of those films filled with moments where things are going too good, and you know something bad is about to happen, and you brace yourself, and it happens, and you're still not prepared, and it starled the bejesus out of me.
For the record, I saw it towards the end of a particularly good date. But I own the DVD. Great editing, particularly.
For the record, I saw it towards the end of a particularly good date. But I own the DVD. Great editing, particularly.
"Warren Zevon would be proud." -Reve Mosquito
Stages, an album of about dealing with loss, anxiety, and grieving a difficult year, now available on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms! https://jonporobil.bandcamp.com/album/stages
Stages, an album of about dealing with loss, anxiety, and grieving a difficult year, now available on Bandcamp and all streaming platforms! https://jonporobil.bandcamp.com/album/stages